Roundabout



3G S R un H 0 G. & L & .E G, A T TI- M R. A

ROUNDABGUT.`

Patented Dec. 25, 1894.

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JAMES A'RMITAGE, ALLAN HERSOHELL, AND GEORGE C. HERSCHELL, OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK.

yRouNDABou-r.

SPECIEFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 531,403, dated December 25, 18,94. Application iledil'uly 18, 1894. Serial No. 517.911. (No model.) Patented in Canada. August 8, 1894. No. 46,790.

To al? whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that we, JAMES ARMITAGE, AL- LAN HERscHELL, and GEORGE C. HERSCHELL,

citizens of the United States, residing at North Tonawanda, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements iny Roundabouts, (for which we have obtained a patent in Canada, No. 46,790,bearing date JAugust 8, 1894,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of machines commonly known as lroundabouts or, merry-go-rounds and which consists essentially of a horizontally revolving frame or platform provided with wooden horses or seats on which persons are seated and whirled around forvamusement. A

The obj ect of our invention is to improve the construction of these machines whereby they are rendered much stronger and safer 1n use.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of three sheets: Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan View of our improved machine. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the machine on' an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, in line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig".

4 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scalev in line .1w-Ll, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the steadying or guide frame which car-A ries the cable guide roller.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several gures. i i

A represents a vertical post secured with its lower end in the ground and forming a B represents two semi-circular lclamping plates or bands which are clamped against opposite sides of the post by bolts lb passing through perforated lugs or ears b formed on the ends of the'bands.

C represents brace rods whereby the lower portion of the post is' steadied. Each of these rods is connected at its inner end to an eye formed on the bands B and its outer end is 4,secured to a stake c driven into the ground.

5o D represents a sleeve which surrounds the post'and rests upon the clamping bands B. The sleeveD is provided with annular flanges or collars d d' at its upper and lower ends, respectively. The lower flange of the sleeve is'provided on dia'metrically opposite sides with depending eyes d2 which are arranged between the ends of the clamping bands and receive the sameI bolts which connect the lugs of the clamping bands thereby preventing E representsa hub which `turns on the' sleeve D between the lianges of the latter,

fandgcomposedof two like sections which are placed on opposite sides of the sleeve and 'secured together by bolts e passing through ylugs e' formed on the adjacent portions of the f -hnb sections.

fhub sections are provided 'with an annular The marginal portions of the row of upwardly projecting lugs forming a row of radialsockets between the lugs. The upper ends of these sockets are closed by two semi-circular plates f secured to the top of ythe lugs.

s horizontal track I and supporting the sweeps near their outer ends, each wheel being mounted on a radial axle h which is j ournaled 'in bearings h arranged upon the lower end IOO by two channel shaped iish plates t arranged on opposite sides of the joint and connected by a boltwhich passes through the joint.

J represents a horizontal rock shaft arranged lengthwise of the sweeps and journaled with its ends in bearings j secured to one of the sweeps. The inner bearing of each rock shaft completely incloses the shaft, while the outer bearing is Ushaped and only embraces thelower portion of the shaft which enables the shaft to be removed without removing the bearings.

7" represents wooden horses or other figures supported upon the rock shaft .l by brackets 7'2 js secured to the under sides of the figures and rigidly secured to the shaft.

K is an eccentric disk secured to the outer end of each axle of the supporting wheels H, and 7c is an eccentric rod which is conconnected at its lower end with an eccentric strap on the eccentric disk K and at its upper end to the bracket i2 whereby a rocking movement is given to the figures 7" as the wheels H revolve on the track l.

Each of the sweeps G may be provided with a rock shaft J upon which a pair of wooden horses are mounted and which are operated by an eccentric rod 7o connecting each pair of horses with the axle of the wheels below the sweep.

L represents seats secured to the sweeps which are not provided with horses or figures. The seats L are preferably secured rigidly to the sweeps, but if desired the seats L may be attached to the rock shaft J and a rocking movement may be given to the seats in the same manner in which the wooden horses are set in motion.

M represents an annular cable rim arranged below the outer portions of the sweeps adjacent to the outer sides of the supporting wheels and secured to hangers m formed on the outer bearings of the wheel axles. This rim is provided in its outer edge with a groove which receives an endless driving cable m', connected with the driving pulley of an engine whereby motion is imparted to the rotary frame of the machine. One portion of the cable extending from the cable rim to the engine passes around a guide pulley N arranged underneath the outer portion of the sweeps. This pulley is mounted on a Vertical spindle supported at its lower end on a base board n.

n represents a stay or guide frame whereby the guide pulley N is retained in its proper position with reference to the cable rim. This stay consists of two radial bars resting on the ground and secured at their outer ends to the base board of the guide pulley N, while their inner ends are secured to a divided collar n2 which embraces the center post. The center post is in time liable to become displaced or drawn toward the side of the machine from which it is driven. When the post is thus displaced and the supporting base of the guide pulley N has no connection with the post, the cable rim comes in contact with the guide pulley and interferes with its action, rendering it necessary to shift the guide pulley away from the rim. By providing a connection between the guide pulley and the center post, the pulley is compelled to move with the post, in case the latter is displaced, thus maintaining the guide pulley in the proper position relatively to the cable rim and preventing interference of the rim with the pulley.

as represents a stay or brwace rod whereby the guide pulley is restrained against movement in the direction in which the cable tends to pull it. This stay is secured at its ends to the base board of the pulley and a stake driven into the ground and is preferably composed of two sections connected by a turn buckle to permit of taking up slack in the cable. The collar at the inner end of the stay frame n' is preferably capable of rotating on the center the post, in case the brace rod a3 should become slack, thereby preventing breakage of said frame.

The cable rim is secured to the hangers m. of all of the supporting legs or brackets h2 and the rim thus serves not only as a means of driving the machine, but also as a tie ring or annular stay whereby the various supporting legs are connected together and firmly braced against lateral as well as inward and outward deflection.

It has been found that when the roundabout is heavily loaded, the supporting legs are liable to become bent, in which case the wheels run off the track. By tying the brackets together by means of the cable rim, this is not only prevented, but the use of sepa rate connections for this purpose is dispensed with, thus accomplishing the desired result without increasing the cost of the machine.

By arranging the cable rim below the outer portions of the sweeps and inside of the edge of the rotary frame or platform, the overhanging portion of the platform forms a guard which prevents passengers or mischievous persons from coming in contact with the cable, and becoming injured. The cable rim also forms a guard for the lower portions of the supporting wheels, whereby mischievous persons are prevented from throwing stones or otherobstructions under the supporting wheels.

l) represents a circular platform arranged on the inner sides of the seats and ligures and composed of sections which rest with their ends upon the sweeps and are held in place theron by clips p.

R represents angle braces arranged between the sweeps and resting upon cleats r secured to opposite sides of the legs h2. The braces are removably held in place against the cleats by turn buttons o" pivoted on the outer sides of the legs.

S represents a guard rim arranged below the outer ends of the sweeps and suspended therefrom by hangers e.

T represents a sectional platform arranged IOO IIO

below the seats and figures and supported by the guard rim S and brackets formed on the legs h2.

U is a sectional drum arranged upon the inner portions of the sweeps around the center post, the sections being provided on their outer sides with pictures or other attractions,

and V represents an organ or other musical the outer side vof said wheels'and secured to the lower portions of said supporting legs whereby the cable rim forms a tie ring or stay connecting the various legs, substantially as set forth.

2. In a roundabout, the combination with the center post and the rotary platform or frame surrounding said post and provided with a cable rim, of a stay or guide frame attached at its inner portion to said post and extending outwardly therefrom, a guide pulley mounted on said frame, and a driving cable passing around said rim and said guide pulley, substantially as set forth.

Witness our hands this 16th day of July, 1894.

JAMEs ARMITAGE. ALLAN HERsoHELL. GEORGE c. HERscI-IELL.

Witnesses:

CHAs. S. ORTON, Y JNO. J. BONNER. 

